mcbruce56

Another Orbit

The above cake is not to celebrate by 68th birthday. As the old joke goes, were I to put that many candles on a cake, it would look like a forest fire. But yes, in a week or so I am going to celebrate another orbit around the sun. Whoopie. I am two years outContinue reading “Another Orbit”

The Little Blue House

The first house I bought was not a house at all. It was a townhouse in Sepulveda, now Mission Hills, that I bought with my VA loan. I was a lovely two story place, whose only flaw was that the security alarm kept going off in the middle of the night, forcing the police toContinue reading “The Little Blue House”

Wise Words by Accident

My son’s mother and I talk every Saturday night to keep up on the boy–who is now 31 years old–and to talk to one another about our sad, sad lives. We discussed why we both seemed to enjoy our solitude a little too much when I said something unusally wise: “We live the lives weContinue reading “Wise Words by Accident”

50 Years? Holy Mackeral!

Tonight, my friends, I attend my 50th High School Reunion. I know. I’m old. I tell my present friends and collegues that I’m going to see how much uglier and fatter my classmates have become. I, of course, am still the handsome, boyish man of my youth. Except with gray hair. And a little belly.Continue reading “50 Years? Holy Mackeral!”

The Least of My Brothers

Monday afternoon and I’m coming out of Target with my groceries. Yes, my friends, I shop at Target because those big grocery stores give me the willies. Anyway, I don’t get much for myself. Some milk. Some peaches. Shampoo. The occasional stuffed animal that I give to my 3-year-old granddaughter. I’m steering the shopping cartContinue reading “The Least of My Brothers”

Gone Again

Any physics major will tell you that there’s only one thing faster than the speed of light, and that’s how fast Friday night turns into Monday morning. So here we are again, Sunday night and all the wonderful things I hoped to accomplish before the weekend was over are wanting. Letters I need to write.Continue reading “Gone Again”

The Fool in the Corner

Well, I have just come back from Nashville. Actually, Franklin, TN. Nashville was a 45 minute taxi ride away. I was in Franklin for the Killer Nashville Writer’s Conference. As I mentioned here a few posts ago, I once again placed a book in the finals of the Comedy Category. Sadly, I did not win,Continue reading “The Fool in the Corner”

One Thing I Did Right

I will never be elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I will never hit a home run in a World Series game. I will never win an Oscar. I will never cross the finish line at Le Mons. I will never kiss Scarlett Johanssen. I will never be on the cover ofContinue reading “One Thing I Did Right”

How Nice To Meet Someone Who Knows What They’re Doing

The Little Black Pony refused to start. It was frustrating. I’d just spent $1451 on the beast to fix its ignition coils and other assorted problems. Now I turn the key and I get the same response as I got from my last girlfriend when I’d nudge her in the middle of the night. Nothing.Continue reading “How Nice To Meet Someone Who Knows What They’re Doing”

Hey, Bulldog

Last Saturday night Barstow enjoyed one of those torrential downpours which makes the desert so delightful. Power knocked out, streets suddenly turned into rivers, cars stalling everywhere, sirens screaming all over the place. It was time for me to cantor at church (I sing the 4 o’clock Saturday vigil mass at St. Joseph’s in Barstow)Continue reading “Hey, Bulldog”